Shock absorbing and sprung suspension system

Abstract

A shock absorber and suspension apparatus are disclosed for supporting a tiltable vehicle cab on a chassis including a first shock absorber and corresponding spring attached in parallel to each other and releasably coupled between the vehicle cab and the chassis, a first coupler attached to the vehicle cab, a second coupler attached to both the first shock absorber and the spring, the first shock absorber including an attachment for attaching the upper portion of the first shock absorber to the second coupler, the attachment including a damper for damping motion of the vehicle cab, the spring including a carrier for bearing the static load acting on the shock absorber and suspension apparatus separately from the first shock absorber, and a second shock absorber connecting the second coupler to the chassis and arranged substantially transverse to the first shock absorber.

We claim: 
     
       1. A shock absorber and suspension apparatus for supporting a tiltable vehicle cab on a chassis comprising at least one first shock absorber, a corresponding at least one spring member attached in parallel to said at least one first shock absorber, said at least one first shock absorber and corresponding at least one spring member being releasably coupled between said vehicle cab and said chassis, a first coupling member attached to said vehicle cab, a second coupling member attached to both said at least one first shock absorber and said at least one spring member, said first and second coupling members being releasably attachable to each other and including guiding means for ensuring coupling together of said first and second coupling members, said at least one first shock absorber including an upper portion including attachment means for attaching said upper portion of said at least one first shock absorber to said second coupling member, said attaching means including damping means for damping motion of said vehicle cab, said at least one spring member including an upper portion including a carrier member, whereby said carrier member can bear the static load acting on said shock absorber and suspension apparatus separately from said at least one first shock absorber, and at least one second shock absorber connecting said second coupling member to said chassis, arranged substantially transverse to said at least one first shock absorber, and arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the chassis. 
     
     
       2. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one first shock absorber includes a lower portion telescopingly displaceable with respect to said upper portion, said upper portion further including a rod slidable therewith for guiding said upper portion of said at least one shock absorber. 
     
     
       3. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upper portion of said at least one spring member also includes an elastic body affixed to said carrier member so as to provide said carrier member with an elastic connection to said upper portion of said at least one spring member. 
     
     
       4. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 3 wherein said carrier member comprises a relatively rigid material. 
     
     
       5. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 3 wherein said upper portion of said at least one spring member includes a guide bush for guiding said slidable rod in a gas-tight manner therethrough. 
     
     
       6. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 5 wherein said slidable rod includes upper and lower abutment members defining the range of motion of said slidable rod with respect to said elastic body. 
     
     
       7. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said at least one first shock absorber includes spring means having a low stiffness within a low amplitude range and a high stiffness within a high amplitude range of those movements to be damped thereby. 
     
     
       8. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said at least one first shock absorber includes spring means having a high stiffness within a low frequency range and a low stiffness within a high frequency range for those movements which are to be damped thereby. 
     
     
       9. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one spring member comprises a gas-operated spring, and wherein said carrier member comprises a rigid upper portion thereof. 
     
     
       10. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 9 wherein said at least one spring member comprises an elastic casing forming a housing comprising a gas-tight compartment. 
     
     
       11. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 1 including a pair of said first shock absorbers and a corresponding pair of spring members, each of said pairs being located at pivotable connections between said vehicle cab and said chassis, including an additional pair of said plurality of first shock absorbers and said corresponding spring members comprising said releasably coupled members. 
     
     
       12. The shock absorber and suspension apparatus of claim 11 wherein said pivotable connections comprise link arms including a pair of pivot axes.